The S&S is packaged in a cardboard box that is sealed with clear plastic. The cardboard boasts the companies dedication to gamers and enthusiasts. S&S actually stands for (steel) and SK, the designers of the mat. The mat is the first product in a new line of professional gaming gear by SteelSeries.

Overall the packaging is very nice and secure and protects the mat well. Opening the package was simple, and when I did I found not a mouse pad but a "sleeve" or carrying case.

Not much to look at to be honest, but it's a mouse pad not artwork. You'll notice that SteelSeries went the extra length to provide you with universal mouse feet, to enhance your mousing experience. These pads are specifically designed to reduce friction and increase control. On the underside of the of the mat, there is a splattered rubber pattern to provide grip, which it does. The mat is about 12" wide by 10.5" tall, so you have a lot of room to use.

During gaming in both CoD2 and CS:S I noticed the overall feel of the mouse was more accurate and smooth, almost fluid like. Now, I don't have any screen shots of me in game as I've been doing terribly in CS:S lately, though I did play a bit better with this mat.

In game, arm/hand motions felt in sync with my mouse motions, and the overall gaming experience was enhanced. The way the mouse slides around on the mat is awesome. The overall feel of the mat is just amazing. The tracking power of your mouse is really shown with this mat, as the solid black textured surface makes it really easy for an optical or laser mouse to track on.

The durability of the mat seems high too, bending it or striking it with a hard blunt object (like the butt of a screwdriver) doesn't leave any marks or indents. I expect this thing to last years. It's a solid, non-porous mat so spilling a drink or food on it will be easy to clean up, especially those sticky sugary caffeine-loaded drinks us gamers drink in the early morning hours.